Downs v. Golden Gate University, No. CGC-24-612353 (CA Super. Ct. Sept. 16, 2024):
On May 31, 2023, Golden Gate University (GGU) declared a state of "financial exigency" in its law school. On November 30, 2023, GGU announced its juris doctor program would end with the 2023-24 school year. In a "teach-out" plan, GGU offered students the ability to continue studies at two other law schools — University of San Francisco and Hamline — for the same tuition. On February 14, 2024, plaintiffs sued GGU, which filed a demurrer that was sustained with leave to amend. Plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint (FAC) on August 7, 2024 and now seek an extraordinary pretrial order "to prevent" GGU "from shutting down its law school." …
The FAC purports to plead six causes of action, but plaintiffs are unlikely to prevail on any
of them. … IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs' Motion for Injunctive Release and/or Specific Performance is DENIED.
- The Recorder, Judge Rejects Students' Plea to Restart Golden Gate University's JD Program
- Reuters, California Judge Rejects Bid to Reopen 123-Year-Old Law School
Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:
- Struggling San Francisco Law School Slashes Class Size, Cancels Tuition (Sept. 30, 2022)
- ABA Gives Golden Gate Law School 3-Year Extension To Meet 75% Bar Passage Accreditation Standard (Mar. 30, 2023)
- Golden Gate University Law School Faces Bankruptcy, Closure (June 21, 2023)
- 122-Year Old Golden Gate Law School Will Keep Its Doors Open A Little Longer Despite Continued Financial Woes (June 26, 2023)
- Golden Gate Law School Won’t Close, But Faculty Layoffs May Be Coming (July 14, 2023)
- Golden Gate Law School Sends Discontinuation Notices To Tenured Faculty, Paving Way For Possible Termination In FY25 (July 17, 2023)
- Golden Gate Will Terminate Its JD Program In May 2024; 1Ls And 2Ls Can Complete Their Degrees At Other Law Schools (Dec. 1, 2023)
- ABA Rejects Golden Gate Law School's Plan To Terminate Its JD Program (Dec. 2, 2023)
- July 2023 California Bar Exam Results (Dec. 22, 2023)
- Students And Alumni Association Sue Golden Gate For Closing Its JD Program (Feb. 20, 2024)
- ABA Approves Golden Gate Law School's Teach-Out Plan, Releases FAQ (Mar. 8, 2024)
- Students And Alumni Seek Court-Appointed Receiver In Last Ditch Effort To Save Golden Gate Law School (May 23, 2024)
- Golden Gate Law Students Ask Court To Keep School Open Another Year (June 29, 2024)
- Students And Alumni Seek Injunction To Prevent Closure Of Golden Gate Law School (July 25, 2024)
- Judge Rejects Attempt By Students And Alumni To Block Closure Of Golden Gate Law School (Aug. 1, 2024)
- Closing Of Golden Gate Law School Leaves Students And Alumni In A Bind (Sept. 2, 2024)
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